Neonatal cranial ultrasound interpretation: a clinical audit

Instructions for use

All pictures have been taken using standard cranial ultrasound settings, with a variable probe set at 7.5 MHz unless otherwise specified.
 

• Abnormalities: Please name all the abnormalities seen (often there is more than one). The scan may be normal. Be as explicit as you are able.
• Management plan: Please specify your management intentions. Be as specific and realistic as you can.
• Prognosis: Please specify prognosis (good/guarded/poor). In addition to this, express what this may mean for the childs development. Be specific and realistic.

QUESTION 1
 

This is the cranial ultrasound of a 27 week infant, taken on day 2 after birth

1. What abnormalities are shown?
2. What is your management plan?
3. What prognosis would you give the parents?

QUESTION 2
 

This is the cranial ultrasound of a 33 week gestation infant with jaundice, taken 14 days after birth

1. What abnormalities are shown?
2. What is your management plan?
3. What prognosis would you give the parents?

QUESTION 3
 

This is the cranial ultrasound of a 26 week infant taken at day 21 after birth

1. What abnormalities are shown?
2. What is your management plan?
3. What prognosis would you give the parents?

QUESTION 4
 

This is the cranial ultrasound of an ex-28 week infant who is now at a corrected gestational age of 35 weeks
 

1. What abnormalities are shown?
2. What is your management plan?
3. What prognosis would you give the parents?

QUESTION 5
 

This is the cranial ultrasound scan of a 29 week infant taken 7 days after birth
 

1. What abnormalities are shown?
2. What is your management plan?
3. What prognosis would you give the parents?

This term infant was born by emergency caesarian section for fetal distress. The above scan was taken at 24 hours of age

At the same time, the following scans were taken using the 5MHz setting
 
 

1. What abnormalities are shown?
2. What is your management plan?
3. What prognosis would you give the parents?
4. Why were the 5MHz images obtained?

ANSWERS